Hoisting apparatus



Feb. 14, 1967 w. B. BROOKS ETAL 3,304,115

HOI STING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 William B. Brooks Samuel L.ChampIon T RS ATTORNEY 1967 w. B. BROOKS ETAL 3,304,115

HOISTING APPARATUS v Filed Dec. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY INVENTORS Feb. 14, 1967 1 R OKS E AL 3,304,115

HOISTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 4 SheetsSheet 5 illiam 8. Brooks Samuel L. Cham NVEN ATTORNEY Feb. 14, 1967 w. B. BROOKS ETAL 3,304,115

HOISTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 William B. Brooks Samuel L. Champion INVENTORS AT TORNE Y United States Patent 3,304,115 HOISTING APPARATUS William B. Brooks, Guntersville, and Samuel L. Champion,

Huntsville, Ala., assignors to Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Bristol, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 421,495

3 Claims. (Cl. 294-81) This invention relates to hoisting apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus that includes a pair of transfer beams that are utilized to transfer a load from a building bridge crane to a mobile crane while maintaining at all times lifting tension on the load during the transfer thereof.

It is conventional practice to cast a solid propellant rocket motor in a casting pit and then remove it from the casting pit to a curing pit. The two pits may be widely separated from each other and at times may be in different installations. The usual procedure has been to raise the rocket motor out of the casting pit by the use of a. building bridge crane and then move a mobile crane into position to support the rocket motor to move it to the curing pit. This type of transfer of the rocket motor from one crane to the other required the presence of an operator at the top of the rocket motor so that he could engage the hook of the mobile crane to the hoisting apparatus and disengage the hook of the building bridge crane from the hoisting apparatus. This was a hazardous procedure and, if not properly executed, could result in the toppling of the rocket motor causing serious damage to the rocket motor and could easily cause the rocket motor to ignite or disintegrate with resulting damage to the installation and possible serious harm or death to the men handling the rocket motor.

The instant invention was, therefore, developed; and its use not only eliminates the necessity of the operator being present to transfer the load from the building bridge crane to the mobile crane but also eliminates the hazard arising from possible toppling of the rocket motor during its transfer from the building bridge crane to the mobile crane.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a hoisting apparatus that will permit a load to be transferred from a building bridge crane to a mobile crane while maintaining lifting tension on the load during the transfer operation.

The operation of lifting and transferring the load, while maintaining lifting tension thereon, is accomplished by the use of two lifting transfer beams, one that can have the hook attachment of the building bridge crane connected thereto and one that can have the hook attachment of the mobile crane connected thereto and a quick detachable connection between the two lifting transfer beams so that, as the load is being handled by the mobile crane, the lifting transfer beam connected to the hook attachment of the building bridge crane can be quickly and safely disconnected from the lifting transfer beam that is connected by the hook attachment to the mobile crane.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoisting apparatus that includes a pair of lifting transfer beams that are detachably connected together so that, when it is desired to release the lifting transfer beam connected to the building bridge crane that is supporting the load and transfer the support of the load to the lifting transfer beam connected to the mobel crane, such transfer of the support of the load can be effected without the loss of supporting tension for the load at all times.

The maintaining of constant lifting tension on the hoisting apparatus and thus on the load is one of the important features of the invention and the quick detach- 3,3 04,1 15 Patented Feb. 14, 1967 able means that permits the lifting tension to be transferred from one crane to another crane, while still maintaining the lifting tension on the load, is the second important feature of the invention.

The combination of these two important features results in a hoisting apparatus that is well qualified for the operation and one that is a great advance over any existing apparatus that is in use at the present time to efiiciently carry out and complete a successful operation of hoisting a load from one fixed position and transferring the same load to a second fixed position that is located at a distance from the first fixed position while still maintaining the lifting tension on the load.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is aside elevation al view with parts broken away and showing by dotted lines the manner in which a mobile crane is moved into position for connection to the hoisting apparatusand showing the hook connection of a building bridge crane connected to the hoisting apparatus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, showing the building bridge crane and the mobile crane in operational connection with the hoisting apparatus.

FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the manner in which the mobile crane is utilized to support a rocket motor and the manner in which the hoisting apparatus is detached to disconnect the transfer lifting beam of the hoisting apparatus and relieve the support of the rocket motor from the building bridge crane.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing one portion of a lifting transfer beam and the quick detachable means of the hoisting apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view of the quick detachable means in operational engagement, and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view showing the manner in which the quick detachable means is disconnected. Referring more in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate a hoist ing apparatus embodying the invention.

The hoisting apparatus 10 comprises a pair of transfer lifting beams 11 and 12. The transfer lifting beam 11 may be formed from one I-shaped beam or it may be formed from a pair of channel-shaped beams welded backto-back to provide an I-shaped formation. A U-bolt 13 is welded at its open ends to a plate 14 which in turn is welded to the transfer lifting beam 11, and the transverse 'axis of the U-bolt 13 is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the transfer lifting beam 11. The U-bolt 13 is used to receive a hook attachment 15 that is suspended by cables 16 from a building bridge crane, not shown.

A pair of UI-shaped bolts 17 and 18 are connected to the opposite ends of the transfer lifting beam 11 in inverted relation to the U-shaped bolt 13 and nuts 19 rigidly secure the U-shaped bolts 17 and 18 in fixed relation to the transfer lifting beam 11. The bolts 17 and 18 are connected to the transfer lifting beam 11 so that the transverse axis thereof are in alignment with the transverse axis of the transfer lifting beam 11. A shackle 20 is connected to each of the U-shaped bolts 17 and 18, and one end of a link 21 of a quick-detachable unit is loosely connected to each of the shackles 20. The opposite end of each of the links 21 is provided with a keyhole slot 22 for a purpose to be later described.

3 The transfer litfing beam 12 is formed from a pair of channel-shaped beams 23 and 24, and a plate member 29 is positioned intermediate of the opposite ends of the beams 23 and 24, and all three are welded in the area of contact to provide a rigid unitary structure. The plate member 25 extends upwardly from the transfer lifting beam 12 in perpendicular relation thereto and is provided with an .angularly-inclined shoulder 26 that merges into a reduced portion 27. A headed pin connector 28 extends from the reduced portion 27 at right angles thereto above the shoulder 26 in vertical alignment therewith. The plate 25 forms the second part of a quick detachable unit since the pin 28 is adapted to be received in the keyhole slot 22 in the link 21, there being a plate 25 at each end of the transfer lifting beam 12, as previously set forth.

A plate 29 is welded to the center of the top of the transfer lifting beam 12, and the opposite ends of a U-bolt 30 is welded to the plate 29 so that the transverse axis thereof is in alignment with the longitudinal aixs of the transfer lifting beam 12. vA pair of U-bolts 31 are secured to the opposite ends of the transfer lifting beam 12 in inverted relation to the U-bolt 30, and the transverse axis of the U-bolts 31 are in alignment with the transverse axis of the transfer lifting beam 12 and nuts 32 rigidly secure the U-bolts 31 thereto.

A pair of U-bolts 31 are shown secured to the opposite ends of the transfer lifting beam 12. These U-bolts 31 are spaced from each other to accommodate rocket motors of different diameters, and more of the U-bolts 31 may be used as required to accommodate rocket motors that can not be accommodated by the pair of U-bolts 31.

Considering the size of a rocket motor 32, shackles 33 are connected to the oppositely-disposed U-bolts 31 that will most readily accommodate the rocketmotor '32; and

one end of a lifting bar 34 is loosely connected to each ,of the selected U-bolts 31. The opposite ends of each of the bars 34 are provided with openings so that a bolt 35 may 'be extended therethrough into threaded openings in the rocket motor 32.

In the use of the hoisting apparatus 10, it is assembled as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The hook attachment 15 is lowered by the cables 16 until it is able to be inserted into the U-bolt 13 in the transfer lifting beam 11. The hoisting apparatus is assembled on a suitable level support; and when the building bridge crane -is operated, it will be lifted upwardly until it is properly suspended from the hook attachment '15.

The building bridge crane will then lower the hoisting "apparatus until it can be connected to the rocketmotor 32 by the pins 35. The rocket motor 32 will then be lifted and moved by the biulding bridge crane until it can be confronted by a mobile crane 36. The mobile .crane 36 is of conventional make and is driven toward thehoisting apparatus 10 until the hook attachment 37 thereof can be connected to the U-bolt 30 of the transfer lifting beam 12.

The mobile crane 36 is then operated to lift the transfer lifting beam 12, the pins 28 will become disengaged from the keyhole slots 22 and further lifting of the transfer l ft g e m 12 i c se t e we en s f t e links 2.1

to ride over the shoulders 26 on the plate 25 to completely disconnect the links 21 from the transfer lifting beam 12.

The rocket motor 32 is now supported by the mobile crane 36 and may be moved to the curing pit as required. During the entire operation, the lifting tension on the rocket motor 32 has been maintained and there is no chance of the rocket motor toppling from its vertical position as the two cranes are in operation.

This is a very important operation, as previously described, and must be efiiciently carried out to avoid loss of the rocket motor 32 or serious damage to the installation that would occur should the rocket motor 32 topple over during the handling thereof.

After or before the mobile crane 36 has been moved from the position shown in FIGURE 3, the building bridge crane is operated to move the transfer lifting beam 11 to a location where the hoisting apparatus 10 can be reassembled after the rocket motor 32 has been lowered into the curing pit.

It is believed that, from the foregoing description, the manner of use and the construction of thet hoisting apparatus 10 Will be clear to those skilled in the artand it it to be understood that variations therein may be adhered to provided such variations fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A hoisting apparatus, comprising a first and second transfer lifting beam, quick detachable means for con- .necting said transfer lifting beams in spaced parallel relation to each other,means {for connecting a'load to said second transfer lifting beam, means for connecting said first transfer lifting beam to a first crane for applying lifting tension to said load, means for connecting said second transfer lifting 'beamto a-second crane whereby when. the lifting tension is transferred to said second crane said quick detachable means will disconnect said first transfer lifting beam from said second transfer lifting beam Without releasing the lifting tension on said load.

2. A hoisting apparatus, as in claim 4, wherein said quick detachable means includes a pair of links having a keyhole slot in each link at one end thereof connected tosaidfirst transfer lifting beam, and a pair of plates havinga pin in each plate secured to said second transfer lifting beam, said pins being adapted to be inserted in the next adjacent keyhole slot in each of said links.

3. A hoisting appartus, as in claim 2, wherein each of said plates is provided with an inclined shoulder adjacent each of said pins so that, when lifting tension is applied to said second transfer lifting beam, the ends of said links will engage said shoulders to release said links from engagement with said pins.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A HOISTING APPARATUS, COMPRISING A FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFER LIFTING BEAM, QUICK DETACHABLE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID TRANSFER LIFTING BEAMS IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR CONNECTING A LOAD TO SAID SECOND TRANSFER LIFTING BEAM, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID FIRST TRANSFER LIFTING BEAM TO A FIRST CRANE FOR APPLYING LIFTING TENSION TO SAID LOAD, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND TRANSFER LIFTING BEAM TO A SECOND CRANE WHEREBY WHEN THE LIFTING TENSION IS TRANSFERRED TO SAID SECOND CRANE SAID QUICK DETACHABLE MEANS WILL DISCONNECT SAID FIRST TRANSFER LIFTING BEAM FROM SAID SECOND TRANSFER LIFTING BEAM WITHOUT RELEASING THE LIFTING TENSION ON SAID LOAD. 